How refreshing to read a leading article which shows an understanding for the situation in Venezuela. In a country with enormous oil income, the productive capacity has been so damaged by the policies and incompetence of the present government that we have acute shortages of such basic requirements as milk, sugar, cooking oil, tea and toilet paper. Job creation, personal safety and housing have been ignored by a president who happily gives away Venezuelan resources to Cuba, Ecuador, Bolivia, London and many others.
As stated in the article, Chavez needs to maintain the poor in their present state since that is where he has his main support. This is achieved by giving them handouts instead of providing employment.
It is, perhaps, significant that the correspondents praising his "modern socialistic" policies live far away in Canada and France, not here in Venezuela.

Jonas, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela

To Roy Brydges. Chavez relies on the poor and uneducated, sadly so easily duped by socialist bullies like him, for his power base. Therefore, whatever he says or does, he will make sure that they remain poor and uneducated in the long term, otherwise he will totally lose his support.

It is socialism that has been a worldwide failure – it results in the leaders being the ‘haves’ and everyone else being the ‘have nots’. I can only think of a few countries in the world where there are virtually no ‘have nots’ and they all run on capitalist lines.

Sam Bartlett, Port El Kantaoui, Tunisia

Didn't Britain control the central bank until quite recently? How is bailing out the Northern Rock not acting like a central bank?
How is suspension of habeas corpus for 28 days democratic?
What is democratic about arresting people who protest peacefully against injustices in public?
How is suspension of civil liberties and detention without trial to protect democracy when the USA does it but dictatorship for anyone else?
Hear Hear Ron Brydges.

Terence Hollingworth, Blagnac, France

Not quite a Mugabe, but when Chavez finally goes he will leave Venezuela in desperate shape compared to what it would have been without him.

Faustino, Brisbane, Australia

Outrageous that the idea of a life long presidency should even be entertained.

The fact that the voting public should want to trade in its right to vote for a president each term for nothing is absurd. I am appalled that even 49% voted for this.

Irrespective of your political beliefs, it is crazy to eliminate your ability to influence politics: if you like Chavez, and continue to like him in 5, 10 15+ years time - then vote for him.

If however, he loses his way, your beliefs change, his policies do not work, etc, then you can always vote for someone else next time.

Shane, Guildford, England

You got it wrong. Chavez is a legitimate champion of the poor who has made significant reductions in poverty unlike a Toni Blair and his new left crowd who portended to address poverty but achieved nothing.
And why is it that British parliamentary system has no constraints upon the number of times a primeminister can run for re-election without the concern of dictatorial mantle while Venezuela cannot. Is this another example of imagined British superiority.
Venezuella is under Chavez going through a democratic revolution that offers hope to millions within that country and beyond. In numerous ways entrenched Capitalism has proven to be an abject failure that has created a world society of haves and have nots. must be challenged. I wish Chavez every succes in realizing a modern democratic socialist that works for the betterment of all people.

What is the matter with you people?

Ron Brydges, St. Catharines, ON Canada